Windows Phone App of the Day: Pocket Airports
Did I ever mention that I got my pilot’s license when I was fifteen? My dad had to drive me to my lessons because while I could fly a 4-seater Cessna by myself, I couldn’t drive a car 2.0 miles down the road without parental supervision. I realize this is a niche market that I’m writing to here, but when I saw this app, I had to go for it. Fellow pilots-this one’s for you.
Pocket Airports shows detailed information on 5,000+ US airports for general aviation pilots. Look up airports by state or search for them by full or partial airport ID. For example, the airport I flew out of was aptly named General Dewitt Spain Airport in Memphis, TN. (Check out the image above.) Save airports to your favorites list for quick access to your most-visited stops. Best part? You don’t need an internet connection to use Pocket Airports. I mean, how useful would it be if you couldn’t work it from 4,000 ft?!
Pros
- Only $0.99 (Reduced cost!)
- Offers trial version
- Trial version offers all features of full version
- Access offline (airport information stored on your phone)
- Offers information for over 5,000 US airports
- Search by state or partial or full airport ID
- Favorite list offers quick access to most-visited airports
- Application data renewed every 56 days
- Data prepared from information provided by the FAA National Flight Data Center service
Cons
- Airport information is not included in installation; Download once app is stored on your phone
- UI crashed when trying to download navigation information
How It Works
- Download from the “Travel + Navigation” section of your Marketplace
- Open from your app list
- Click on the “…” icon to to data files page to download navigation data (Select “data files”)
- Select the button at the bottom of your screen to download the latest airport information to your phone (This will be available offline once downloaded, but the app will not work without downloading.)
- Once downloaded, scroll right through the pivots to search airports by State, search by full or partial airport ID, view your favorites list,
- Click on the “Star” icon on your desired airport’s details page to add/remove airport from your favorites list
- Select the “…” icon again and press the button at the bottom of your screen to update the airport information stored on your phone
Conclusion
Alright, niche market, listen up. You can pretty much do whatever you want if you walk briskly in a Pilot’s uniform. (First person to Tweet the origin of this clever pop culture reference to @ATaylorWalker gets a high-five!) I’m giving this one some slack because I love the concept and have never seen anything like it before, but I was really disappointed to find that when trying to download navigation information to my phone (and, therefore, USE the app!) that the interface crashed, and I was brought to my home screen. I say I’m cutting Pocket Airport some slack because, for now, I will attribute this glitch to the shoddy bootleg internet I am connected to, so until then, I will cross my fingers that it doesn’t just suck. This could be a fabulously innovative app with capabilities I’ve never seen on mobile navigation, and the user interface is extremely helpful, with detailed directions on how to download/update navigation info, add/remove airports from your favorites list, search, etc. Let’s leave my final assessment on hold for now. I’d really love to use this app if I ever make enough money to fly again.
Fantastic piece , I learned a lot from the info ! Does anyone know if my assistant could acquire a blank PHQ-9 A2663B example to complete ?